RuPaul Responds to Legislative Attacks: 'Drag Queens are the Marines of the Queer Movement'

RuPaul took to Instagram to call out Republicans for anti-drag laws that the "Drag Race" icon says are "distractions" from real problems... and to hail drag queens as the "marines" of the LGBTQ+ community.

Dismissing the theatrical nature of the anti-drag bills and the inflammatory rhetoric around them, RuPaul called on his audience to "get the stunt queens out of office," Variety reported.

"Hey, look over there!" RuPaul, 62, said in a video posted to the social media platform on March 8. "A classic distraction technique, distracting us away from the real issues that they were voted into office to focus on: jobs, healthcare, keeping our children safe from harm at their own school."

Backed by an American flag, RuPaul went on to add, "Drag queens are the Marines of the queer movement. Don't get it twisted and don't be distracted. Register to vote so we can get these stunt queens out of office and put some smart people with real solutions into government."

"And by the way, a social media post has never been as powerful as a registered vote."

"At least 11 state legislatures are threatening to restrict or prohibit drag show performances as the GOP continues to ramp up efforts to spread the narrative that drag queens are predators," Variety noted. Anti-drag bills also lump drag shows in with "adult" and "sexually explicit" entertainment, regardless of the actual content of the shows.

One such bill was passed in Tennessee last week. NPR detailed that the law provides harsh penalties to drag performers for offering the public their genre of entertainment "within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, or places of worship," as well as in any public space or place where children could see.

The language of the Tennessee law lumps drag performers together with "adult cabaret among topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers and strippers," the Associated Press said.

RuPaul is only one of many drag stars who refuse to back down from the slanders or legislative persecution they face. Drag performer and "Drag Race" Season 14 star Kerri Colby drew a direct line between anti-drag laws and the rhetoric that drives them and a larger culture of homophobic and transphobic violence, writing in an essay for Variety that "Bills like these create more stigma, discrimination and ultimately violence against LGBTQ folks – particularly transgender and nonbinary people."

Meanwhile, Variety noted, other "Drag Race" performers, including Jackie Cox and Sasha Colby, appeared in a video for GLAAD in which they encouraged their fellow practitioners of the time-honored art to hang tough.

"I'm here to tell you that you can still do drag, you can still be your true self, whatever that is," Variety quoted Cox as saying. "Showcase your art, showcase your gender. Even as you're seeing the negative things even as all the hate happens, you have to shine that light shining bright for yourself."

Observers, meanwhile, are left scratching their heads over the fuss. "Drag is not a threat to anyone," the AP article quoted University of Michigan Professor Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes as saying. "Drag is a legitimate artistic expression that brings people together," Prof. Fountain-Stokes went on to say, adding that drag "entertains" audiences and "allows certain individuals to explore who they are and allows all of us to have a very nice time."

"So it makes literally no sense for legislators, for people in government, to try to ban drag."